Can-opener.



No. 702,223. Patented luneflo, |902.

w c. MEvNcKE.

CAN [IP ENER.v xApplL-atiou led Nov. 27, 1901 (N0 MudeL) ma 26W N BWM? Umts* starts -1 PTEN'T- OFFICE."

WILLIAM C. MEYN CKE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

CAN-OPENER.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 702,228, dated J une 10, 1902.

Application fled November 27, 1901l Serial No. 83,930. (No model.)

T all whom t may concern/.1`

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GrMEYNcKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to can-openers, and particularlyto that class of such devices which are primarily secured to the can-top, the intent and purpose of the same being to provide simple and effective means for cutting the can-top in angular planes and producing loose flaps, which may be bent upwardly to form an outlet for the contents of the can.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a can, showing the top thereof provided with the improved opening means. Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view of a portion of a can, showing the location of the opening means on the inner side of the top portion thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a can, showing the opening means as having been operated to cut thetop.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views. 1

The numeral l designates a can-body having a top 2 of ordinary form. It will be understood that the can may be of any dimensions, and the structure of the same will be similar to cans now commonly found in the market. The improved opening means are applied to the top 2 and consist of two wires 3 and 4, disposed against the inner side of the top, preferably in planes at right angles to each other, one end of each wire being secured to the top, adjacent to the periphery thereof, and then carried across to a diametrically opposite point and passed upwardly through an opening. The extremity of eachV wire which is passed-through the top 2 iscoiled or otherwise formed into a grip 5, which is primarily pressed down close to the upper side of the can-top in convenient position for engagement by the operator. Soft solder is used in securing the ends of the wires 3 and 4 against the under side of the top 2, and after the opposite extremities of the wires are passed through the openings in the top to exteriorly expose portions of said wires, as set forth, the openings are then completely closed by the introduction therein of soft solder. The Wi-res 3 and It, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, are given sufficient slack under the top 2 to effeetually carry out the cutting operation to be performed by said wires, and it is obvious that if said wires were drawn tightly against the under side of the can-top considerable diliiculty and obstruction would be experienced in an attempt to perform the cutting operation.

If the Wires 3 and 4 were not slack, as set forth, the tension brought to bear thereon by the pulling strain applied thereto, together with the resistance set up by the can-top to be cut, would cause the said Wires to break and render them of little practical value as an opening means for a metallic top. By having the wires slack they gradually give way or have an easement during the pulling operation, and the resistance to their eectual cutting operation is reduced to a minimum in view of the fact that they do not pull directly against a considerable extent of the under side of the can-top.

In opening a can-top by means of the improved attachments the wire 3 is first operated and is drawn upwardly and over toward the secured end thereof. The wire 4 is then similarly pulled or drawn toward its secured end, and two slits will be cut in the can-top in planes at right angles to each other and intersecting at the center of the said top. These slits Will produce flaps 6, which may be readily bent upwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, to form an outlet for the delivery of the contents of the can.

In applying the improved means for opening a can-top it will be understood that the wires will be secured in place previous tothe application of the top to the body, and when the parts are prepared for the market some indicating means will be applied to the cantop as to which wire should be first operated. Either wire may be disposed closer throughout its length to the can-top, as the success in the operation of opening a can is not dependent on such disposition or application of a particular one of the wires.

ICO

The improved opening means is simple and will not materially increase the cost of manufacture of the can and will be convenient for the purpose devised. l

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- The combination with a can-top, of two wire strands primarily located below the under side of said top within the can and each having one extremity eXteriorly exposed and the opposite extremities secured to the under side of the top, the said strands being crossed in planes at right angles below the center of the under side of the top and normally slack to render them effective in cutting the top, the secured and eXteriorly-opposite ends of the strands being arranged in diametrical relation to the top, the cutting operation ofthe strands dividing the top into loose Iiaps inside of the periphery of said top, said flaps being adapted to be bent upwardly to form an outlet for the contents of the can.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM C. MEYNCKE. Witnesses:

CECILIA SoUTHwIoK, E. I. HEATH. 

